During the 1970s and 80s I was involved in music teaching (as Head of Music first at Hatfield School, Hertfordshire, then Highfields School, Wolverhampton). Both schools possessed fine orchestras; those were the days when free instrumental tuition was considered an important part of a school's cultural heritage. I was able to try out some of my earliest orchestral compositions in this admirable training ground.

At the same time (and later, until the early 1990s), I was Associate Conductor of the Hertford Symphony Orchestra as well as being part of the bassoon section, which was then under the inspired direction of Iain Sutherland (of 'Friday Night is Music Night' fame). He encouraged me to contribute the occasional work for them to perform, essentially light music, for the series of Robert Kiln Children's Concerts and the joint Christmas Concert with the Hertford Choral Society.

It was a privilege to be able to do this, and Iain's successors have encouraged further works over the years.